Helmet having dual cooling layers

ABSTRACT

A cooling helmet apparatus for cooling the head of a wearer through a plurality of complementary internal components integrated therein. The cooling helmet apparatus comprises a conventional helmet base having a multilayer internal structure, a solar panel and ventilation holes. An electrical cooling pad layer is first internal layer is defined by an electrically powered cooling pad which cools air in and around the cooling pad. The second layer is a gel layer, which is defined by a flexible encasement of conventional cooling gel. The third layer, configured to contact a wearer&#39;s head when the helmet base is worn, is an absorbent towel layer. The towel layer is defined as a layer of absorbent towel material which absorbs perspiration from a wearer&#39;s head due to its contact with the wearer&#39;s head and cools the perspiration due to its proximity to the gel layer and the cooling pad layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to helmet devices and, more particularly, to a wearable helmet having a plurality of complementary cooling layers which enable it to produce a cooling effect on the wearer's head in response to perspiration.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of helmets for various activities is well known. Helmets are commonly employed by participants of certain sports (i.e. football, baseball, bike racing, auto racing, lacrosse) as well as by construction workers, firefighters and others performing activities during which protection is desired for their head. Helmets are typically designed to provide maximum protection while not being excessively bulky or heavy, and desirably providing some ventilation to a wearers head. A problem which still exists, however, is that wearing a helmet can often increase the risk of heat induced illness when worn in high temperature and/or humidity conditions. Due to the very nature of the helmet, heat from both the wearer's head and from ambient conditions is often trapped inside, leading to what could be a dangerous circumstance for the wearer. Thus, there remains a need for a helmet apparatus which is adapted to create a cooling effect in response to moisture being absorbed. It would be helpful if such a cooling helmet apparatus included solar panels which enabled it to generate electricity for powering a electrical cooling layer. It would be additionally desirable for such a cooling helmet apparatus to be structured provide an equivalent level of impact protection while still providing for the intended cooling effect.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a helmet apparatus adapted to provide a cooling effect through two distinct layers of material operating through two distinct mechanisms. The primary components in Applicant's cooling helmet apparatus are a helmet having a power source, a cooling pad layer, a cooling gel layer, and an absorbent layer. When in operation, the cooling helmet apparatus allows the head of a wearer to be kept cool when used in high heat and/or humidity conditions. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art helmets are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cooling helmet apparatus for cooling the head of a wearer through a plurality of complementary internal components integrated therein. The cooling helmet apparatus comprises a conventional helmet base having a multilayer internal structure, a solar panel and ventilation holes. The solar panel is disposed on the exterior shell surface of the helmet base and the ventilation holes provide for air to be ventilated in and out of the helmet base when worn.

An electrical cooling pad layer is first internal layer, the one which is closest to the shell of the helmet base. It is defined by an electrically powered cooling pad which cools air in and around the cooling pad. The second layer is a gel layer, which is defined by a flexible encasement of conventional cooling gel. The third layer, which is configured to contact a wearer's head when the helmet base is worn, is an absorbent towel layer. The towel layer is defined as a layer of absorbent towel material which absorbs perspiration from a wearer's head due to its contact with the wearer's head and cools the perspiration due to its proximity to the gel layer and the cooling pad layer.

It is an object of this invention to provide a helmet apparatus which is adapted to create a cooling effect in response to moisture being absorbed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cooling helmet apparatus which includes solar panels which enabled it to generate electricity for powering a electrical cooling layer.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a cooling helmet apparatus to be structured provide an equivalent level of impact protection while still providing for the intended cooling effect.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a side elevational view of a cooling helmet apparatus built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 b is a cross-section of a front elevational view of a cooling helmet apparatus built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a back elevational view of a cooling helmet apparatus built in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, and 2, a cooling helmet apparatus 10 is shown having a conventional helmet base 11 having a solar panel 12 and ventilation holes 13. The helmet base 11 is structured similar to typical helmet; in the embodiment football helmet embodiment, it is constructed of plastic and/or fiberglass. The solar panel 12 is disposed on the exterior surface of the helmet base 11 and is adapted to covert radiation from the sun into electricity. The solar panel 12 directs the electricity it generates to an electrical cooling pad layer 14 on the interior of the helmet base 11, to which it is electrically connected through an electrical wire 12 a. The ventilation holes 13 provide for air to be ventilated in and out of the helmet base 11 when worn.

The helmet base 11 is equipped with three layers of material on its interior surface. The electrical cooling pad layer 14 is the outermost layer and is defined by an electrically powered cooling pad which cools air in and around the pad to produce a cooling effect in the interior of the helmet base 11. Embedded in the cooling pad layer are electrical wires which connect it the solar panel 12 and a rechargeable battery which is configured store electricity from the solar panel 12 and provided electrical power to the cooling pad in the absence of electrical power from the solar panel 12.

The second layer is a gel layer 15. The gel layer 15 is defined by a encasement of conventional cooling gel. The gel layer 15 is adapted to absorb and retain cool temperatures generated by the cooling pad later 14 and resist absorbing heat given off by a wearer's head. In this regard, it works in concert with, and enhances the cooling effect of the cooling pad later 14. It is contemplated that the cooling gel layer 15 additionally provides cushioning from impacts resulting from the customary use of the helmet base 11.

The third layer is an absorbent towel layer 16 which is configured to contact a wearer's head when the helmet base 11 is worn. The towel layer 16 is defined as a layer of absorbent towel material. It is able to absorb perspiration from a wearer's head due to its contact with the wearer's head and cool the perspiration due to its proximity to the gel layer 15. As the gel layer 15 is not absorbent, the cooled perspiration remains in the towel layer 16, in contact with the wearer's head, and the cooled perspiration enhances the cooling effect of the helmet base 11 on the wearer's head. In addition, the towel layer 16 provides added cushioning for a wearer's head.

It is understood that while an American football style helmet is shown in the drawings, the three layer aspect, along with the disclosed power source, may be employed on similar helmet style head coverings, such as baseball, bike racing, auto racing, lacrosse, construction, mining, law enforcement, military and firefighters helmets.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cooling helmet apparatus, comprising: a helmet base having an exterior shell, an interior surface, and an electrical power source, wherein the exterior shell is configured to provide an encased area inside the helmet base bordered at least in part by the interior surface; an electrical cooling pad, wherein said electrical cooling pad is disposed in the encased area; a cooling gel pad, defined as an enclosed structure having cooling gel disposed therein, disposed in the encased area; and an absorbent towel component disposed in the encased area.
 2. The cooling helmet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is defined by a solar panel disposed on the exterior shell.
 3. The cooling helmet apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power source additionally includes a rechargeable battery.
 4. The cooling helmet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is defined by a rechargeable battery.
 5. The cooling helmet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical cooling pad is configured to form a layer of material which contacts the interior surface.
 6. The cooling helmet apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cooling gel pad is configured to be form a layer of material contacting the electrical cooling pad.
 7. The cooling helmet apparatus of claim 6, wherein the absorbent towel component is configured to be form a layer of material contacting the cooling gel.
 8. The cooling helmet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling gel pad is configured to be disposed between the electrical cooling pad and the absorbent towel component.
 9. The cooling helmet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorbent towel component is configured to form a layer of material which contacts the cooling gel pad on one side and a wearer's head on the other side.
 10. The cooling helmet apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising at least one ventilation hole disposed on said exterior shell. 